The Philippines has been considered as a powerhouse in the Miss International Pageant producing four titleholders in the years 1964, 1970, 1979 and the most recent one was in 2005. Ever since then, the Philippines has been showing a very satisfactory performance even if it's delegate ending up not winning the much coveted title at least settling in a runner up post or making it through the semifinals. Thus, making the Philippines the second best performing country in terms of the number of crowns won just behind the ever consistent performing beauty superpower VENEZUELA.

Miss International is considered as a Beauty Festival where the representatives of all participating countries are expected to compete not only with their external beauty but the beauty within through international exchanges and various social action programs. Luckily, the Philippines had been represented in this pageant since its inception and the country had able to produce representatives who were great ambassadors of goodwill.

~~~THE TITLEHOLDERS~~~

GEMMA CRUZ, Miss International 1964

Gemma Cruz is the first beauty from the Philippines and the first Asian crowned as Miss International in Long Beach, California, USA. Being able to win the Miss Philippines Pageant sponsored by the City of Manila in 1964, she automatically earned the right to represent the country in the Miss International Pageant. It has been said that the monetary prize won by Gemma in the pageant has been donated to an orphanage in charge in taking care of the needs of the indigent and out-of-school youth. She is a recipient of the "OUTSTANDING MANILENA AWARD" and the "GOLDEN HEART PRESIDENTIAL DECORATION" awarded by former President Diosdado Macapagal.Gemma Cruz has written articles for various broadsheets and magazines through the years with the preservation of cultural and historical heritage as its theme in general. At age nine, Gemma was already writing a column, Children’s Corner, for Weekly Women’s Magazine. After college, she wrote for the Sunday Times Magazine and the pre-martial law Weekly Graphic Magazine.

AURORA PIJUAN, Miss International 1970

She is the second Miss International of the Philippines making a mark for the Philippines as the first country to win the title twice.Later she went on to marry Tommy Manotoc, a golfer, in Dominican Republic however the said marriage ended up in divorce. Tommy later married the daughter of the former President of the Republic, Imee Marcos. Currently, Aurora is an active member of Gawad Kalinga movement in the rural areas across the country.

MIMILANIE MARQUEZ, Miss International 1979

Best in National Costume

This Pampanga native is perhaps the youngest contestant to be crowned as Miss International. She was only 15 years old when she brought home the title. Melanie as she is popularly known is a modelling and image-enhancement coach. She had trained Ruffa Gutierrez, Charlene Gonzales and Miriam Quiambao to name a few. In a 2000 poll, Melanie was voted as the "Most Beautiful Miss International" and according to ANG PINAKA TOP PICKS, a TV magazine show, she is the number one "Most admired beauty queen" in the country. Melanie is known of her quotable quote "I won't change my legs because I am contented with my long-legged", a quote which has been a constant subject of most pageant fora. Who could possibly forget that?

PRECIOUS LARA QUIGAMAN, Miss International 2005

A freelance web page writer turned beauty queen is the fourth titleholder of the country. Precious Lara Quigaman won the crown in 2005. This victory has opened a lot of opportunities for her may it be in the modelling world, product endorsements and even in the world of showbiz. She studied Media production and Communication in South Gloucestershire and Stroud College and pursued a Bachelor of Arts in Childhood and Youth Studies at Bristol University.She is married to actor Marco Alcaraz. Just recently, she gave birth to a seven-pound baby boy via cesarean section at the Asian Hospital and Medical Center in Alabang, Muntinlupa City.

~~~THE RUNNERS UP~~~

EVELYN CAMUS, Miss International 1971 2nd Runner Up

YOLANDA DOMINGUEZ, Miss International 1972 2nd Runner Up

Best in National Costume

MARIA ELENA OJEDA, Miss International 1973 4th Runner Up

~~~THE SEMIFINALISTS~~~

EDITA VITAL, Miss International 1960 Semifinalist

Edita Vital was the editor of the fashion and features section of Asian Forum Magazine in the late ‘70s.

MONINA YLLANA, Miss International 1963 Semifinalist

NENITA RAMOS, Miss International 1968 Semifinalist

MARGARET ROSE MONTINOLA, Miss International 1969 Semifinalist

JAYE MURPHY, Miss International 1975 Semifinalist

MARIA DOLORES ASCALON, Miss International 1976 Semifinalist

Best in National Costume

ALICE SACASAS, Miss International 1981 Semifinalist

JESSIE ALICE DIXSON, Miss International 1986 Semifinalist

A beauty queen turned movie star, Alice Dixson (oftenly misspelled as Alice Dixon) was the Philippine representative to the 1986 edition of Miss International. Aside from being a beauty queen and an actress, she is also a commercial model, product endorser and a licensed realtor in the Province of British Columbia, Canada and also a licensed real estate agent in the State of Florida, USA. Do you still remember her saying "I can feel it!" in a Palmolive soap TV commercial?In 1999, she married businessman Ronnie Miranda in Canada but ended up in divorce just very recently. Accordingly, the reason behind such divorce is irreconcilable differences.It is worthy to be noted upon that Alice has her grand comeback in the showbiz industry a little over a year ago where she starred in BABAENG HAMPASLUPA which aired over TV5. This was succeeded with Glamorosa, Isang Dakot Na Luha (2012), Enchanted Garden (2012) and two movies Ang Panday 2 (2011) and Just One Summer (2012). Her next TV series is Never Say Goodbye which airs in January 2013 on TV5.

A Tourism Major of University of Santo Tomas has represented the Philippines in Miss International 1994 held in Tokyo, Japan. Alma Concepcion, after her MI stint, has been visible in the showbiz industry appearing as a lead star in various films. At the age of 15, she represented the country in Miss Hawaiian Tropic Pageant in Florida where she was able to win the title. Currently, she owned a Jamaican restaurant. She said "I am not afraid to experiment. I am always fascinated at what the next thing will bring me. I consider myself an achiever because I never quit." Some time in 1998, she was arrested in Guam for alleged drug possession.

GLADYS ANDRE DUENAS, Miss International 1995 Semifinalist

YEDDA MARIE KITTILSVEDT, Miss International 1996 Semifinalist

SUSAN JANE RITTER, Miss International 1997 Semifinalist

COLETTE GLAZER, Miss International 1998 Semifinalist

MARGARET ANN BAYOT, Miss International 2004 Semifinalist

To know the latest about her the TS recommends everyone to read the conversation between UNO-God of Beauty and Margaret Ann Bayot entitled UNOLOGY 2: MARGARET ANN BAYOT One on One INTERVIEW. Please refer to this link viewtopic.php?f=1&t=149971

PATRICIA ISABEL FERNANDEZ, Miss International 2008 Semifinalist

A Cum laude Bachelor of Arts in Speech Communication graduate, Patricia's thesis was about the local pageantry which she says opened her eyes to the world of beauty pageants. She was also an alto singer with the University of the Philippines Singing Ambassadors under the tutelage of conductor Ed Manguiat.The 2008 Miss International Beauty Pageant was held in the Venetian Macao Hotel, Macau, China on November 8. She said in an interview prior to her Miss International stint, that she will show the world the Filipino's warmth."What I am most proud of about the Philippines is the fact that our people are as warm as our climate," the Filipina beauty said.Patricia's performance in the pageant landed her a spot in the top-12 semi-finalists. The Filipino crowd gave her a round of applause at the gate of the Venetian Macao Hotel Theater, the only pageant candidate to receive such appreciation.

MELODY ADELHEID GERSBACH+, Miss International 2009 Semifinalist

Melody is the second Bicolana to be crowned as Bb. Pilipinas International (first was Georgina Sandico in 1999) and represented the country in Miss international 2009. She was a management graduate of the University of Asia and the Pacific and had been managing a family German restaurant business in Bicol. Melody died in a car incident around 11 a.m. August 21, 2010, when the Toyota Innova she was traveling in collided head on with a passenger bus in Barangay Pawili in Bula. Police said, "the bus was trying to avoid a tricycle when it collided with a Toyota Innova".Before her death, Melody was supposed to appear on TV as the leading lady of Philippine matinee idol, Aga Muhlach. She was also into modeling and training future beauty queens in Bicol.May your soul rest in peace Melody. We will always love you!

KRISTA EILEEN KLEINER, Miss International 2010 Semifinalist

Miss Talent

Miss Expressive

Julio Iglesias selected Krista to join him in his world tour just after Krista was crowned as Bb. Pilipinas International 2010. She is now an International Recording Artist song-writer (also known as Krista K). Krista was a finalist, won "best in talent" and the title of Miss Expressive 2010 at the Miss International pageant held in China while representing the Philippines on November 7, 2010. This title was described as being recognition for her being the most outspoken and best able to communicate with others, and for being the candidate who showed most enthusiasm for life.Before winning Miss Philippines International, she had won several beauty titles including Miss USA Philippines 2007, Miss Pistang Pilipinas Queen of Tourism 2004, and Miss Young Philippines USA.

DIANE ELAINE NECIO, Miss International 2011 Semifinalist

Miss Internet Popularity

Before winning the Bb. Pilipinas International title in 2011, she was declared as first runner up in 2010 won by the eventual winner Ma. Venus Raj. Her decision to resign and give up a part of her prize package was really worth it for she was crowned as the Bb. Pilipinas International 2011 earning her the right to represent the country in the MI pageant that year. Diane performed her baton twirling skills in the Miss International 2011 Pageant in Chengdu, China.

NICOLE SCHMITZ, Miss International 2012 Semifinalist

It was really a memorable day when Nicole competed in Miss International because it was the same day when Blessed Pedro Calungsod declared a saint. Many anticipated and prayed that she will win that night but a semifinal finish for Nicole is already a remarkable one. She had her final speech as: “Peace, love, unity, these 3 words are the Miss International pageant. Having spent the past 3 weeks in Okinawa, I have witnessed the special connection it has with the world. Globalization and multi cultural diversity can exist. We can be uniquely global and globally unique. This is my mission. I want people to appreciate that we not only belong to local communities but world at large. By this understanding we can contribute to global goals. I am standing here in front of you open to offer my heritage and myself, as a strong compassionate responsible and independent woman in this quest for global harmony. And I can stand here proudly and consider myself an international citizen.”

Note: Credits of recognition are extended to all the owners of the photos posted in this thread.

Thank you for your kind words my friend... But I am not expecting for that as of now.. I have to prove myself worthy of the PROFESSIONAL TAG... I am still considering my self as a NEOPHYTE in thread making... But, I am touched by your words..

Leiron wrote:When Melanie won in 1979, the Philippines made a record by being the first country to win the title thrice

It's funny that you mentioned that. Coz the Philippines already had three crowns in 1979, while Venezuela still had 0.

Admin just a query.., Was the age of Ms. Melanie Marquez never been disclosed during her reign? I just wondered if MIO did something about this..

I don't think it was even an issue back then. When international laws had begun to require UN member nations to observe certain protocols in hiring minors or those who were below the legal age to work, I guess that's also the start of the strict implementation of age limits for girls to be able to compete at an international pageant.

Leiron wrote:When Melanie won in 1979, the Philippines made a record by being the first country to win the title thrice

It's funny that you mentioned that. Coz the Philippines already had three crowns in 1979, while Venezuela still had 0.

Admin just a query.., Was the age of Ms. Melanie Marquez never been disclosed during her reign? I just wondered if MIO did something about this..

I don't think it was even an issue back then. When international laws had begun to require UN member nations to observe certain protocols in hiring minors or those who were below the legal age to work, I guess that's also the start of the strict implementation of age limits for girls to be able to compete at an international pageant.

it has been corrected in old articles and miss international 1979 mimilanie marquez, being the outgoing queen, attested to it that dianne jeanne christine chiong wasn't a semi-finalist in the 1980 miss international. dianne chiong was the one alice veronica sacasas, her successor, referred to during one of her tv guestings, whom she had an unpleasant encounter with during her crowning as bb. pilipinas-international 1981.

anyway, all of my favorite bb. pilipinas-international titleholders through the years could have also been worthy representatives to miss universe like alice veronica sacasas who i remember having read at youtube was described as hermosa, jessie alice dixson, maria patricia betita(i have caught her two recent tv guestings on spoon and moments and she was a delightful interviewee and a lovely sight to behold in both occasions)., gladys andre duenas, yedda marie kittelstvedt, colette glazer(if only she met the age requirement making her eligible to grab the top plum) and melody adelaide gersbach(seeing how she wonderfully performed at miss international 2009 and how she was blessed with a very pretty face and flawless white skin made me regret she only got the title she got.)

Nice thread! So muntik pa pala tayong mag back-to-back-to-back noong 1970-1972? Ang galing, and I wonder why Yolanda Dominguez didn't bring home the crown during her time, she's the clear stand out in that photo!

Nice thread! So muntik pa pala tayong mag back-to-back-to-back noong 1970-1972? Ang galing, and I wonder why Yolanda Dominguez didn't bring home the crown during her time, she's the clear stand out in that photo!

Thanks patcruz... Actually it was a three straight runners up finishes from 71 to 73 after Aurora Pijuan won the crown in 1970...

Thank you for your kind words my friend... But I am not expecting for that as of now.. I have to prove myself worthy of the PROFESSIONAL TAG... I am still considering my self as a NEOPHYTE in thread making... But, I am touched by your words..